5Synonyms found for strayed

Word Origin & History

stray c.1300, aphetic of O.Fr. estraier "wander about," lit. "go about the streets," from estree "route, highway," from L.L. via strata "paved road" (see street). On another theory, the O.Fr. is from V.L. *estragare, a contraction of *estravagare, representing L. extra vagari "to wander outside" (see extravagant). Fig. sense of "to wander from the path of rectitude" is attested from early 14c. The noun meaning "domestic animal found wandering" is earlier (early 13c.), from O.Fr. estraié "strayed," pp. of estraier. The adj. is first recorded c.1600.

Example Sentences for strayed

Old instincts kicked in when a small antelope strayed into the older pair's enclosure and they pounced.

And to protect its cash cow, the company has strayed more than once from the path of environmental virtue.

These plants never strayed too far from the city center, so development grew densely.